Annamacharya

Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya (శ్రీ తాళ్ళపాక అన్నమాచార్య) (1424-1503) is an Indian poet and musician widely regarded as the Telugu pada kavita pitaamaha (Grand old man of simple poetry). An ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati, AP, Annamacharya( also known as Annamayya) successfully composed more than 30,000 krithis (a Carnatic composition) in the carnatic music tradition, a feat which is near impossible to replicate! They were found engraved on copper plates which were hidden for centuries inside the Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala.

Annamacharya's considered his compositions as floral offerings to God. In the poems, he praises Venkateswara, describes his love for him, argues and quarrels with the Lord, confesses the devotee’s failures and apprehensions, and surrenders himself to Venkiteshwara. His songs are classified into Adhyaatama and Sringaara samkirtanaas

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has been endeavouring to preserve the rich heritage, (and has been quite successful).

External Links

• About Annamacharya from Sapthagiri Magazine
• Brief Biography with some kirtanas
• Life and Times of Annamacharya
• kirtanas in Telugu
• Tallapaka-The Birthplace of Annamacharya
• TELUGU - Italian of the East